The Themes of Today

Last night the area outside the Command Center was bear sprayed. The smell still lingers pretty strong in the stairway up to the war room and in the doorway. You can see where the bear spray hit the Crosswalk and stairway doors, as they are stained with a orange/brown liquid. It looks like our door was deliberately sprayed because there is a big stain right around and on the door handle, so every time you open the door you get the spray on your hands and have to wash them so you don't end up touching your face or eating with it still on your hands. If you forget to, and rub your eyes or touch your mouth, you'll very soon experience a bad burning sensation that takes a few minutes to leave and can render you blind for that time. Needless to say, I've learned my lesson and washed my hands a lot today. It was so bad last night that one of our community members, who was merely around when it happened, couldn't see for 20 minutes and had to be lead around for another 25 afterwards. Now, I can't say why our door/stairway was targeted or if it was a target at all, but the whole incident has caused me to think about persecution today and reflect on the passage in Matthew 5:10-11

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Now, simply having to wash your hands after opening or touching a door isn't too bad and if it's been because we show Jesus in any way, then I'm quite happy about it! But if I had gotten bear sprayed in the face, would I be thinking the same thing? There are much worse persecutions happening to Christians around the world today because they show Jesus, and as much as I would like to think I would rejoice in it, I really don't know that I would be able to. It would definitely be very hard to.

Pray for those who are persecuted. Some countries in particular to pray for would be China, India, Ethiopia, Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Indonesia, Colombia, and Cuba. These are all classified as "hostile" or "restricted" nations under the "Voice of the Martyrs" organization.



On a happier note, we finger painted a scene of freedom on pieces of large chart paper taped up to the wall in Pigeon Park today. The skyline of the city is dark and grey, but out of the sun comes light and the light spreads through the city, never looking back but only moving forward with more light and colour. The colours are bright and vibrant, standing out and taking over the picture. They bring with them peace, hope and joy, and not just a shortlived happiness that comes with the world's "freedom" but a real, deep joy that comes with true freedom through Jesus Christ. True freedom is awesome. True freedom is the author of the picture.
It's a very pretty picture, I must say, and I hope to have some pictures up of it soon. It still hangs in Pigeon Park, speaking its message and blessing the area with a glimpse of the joy, hope and peace that is found only in the Son and radiates through and through.

Peace be with you,
Megan